If you follow me on Twitter, you’re probably aware I have become slightly obsessed with OpenAI’s GPT-3, a machine learning language model. I have released several free Google Sheets scripts for marketers utilising this technology.

I also recently gained access to OpenAI’s Dalle-2, a new AI system that creates realistic images and art from natural language descriptions. It offers a feature with which you can upload an existing image and ask Dalle-2 to add to it, change it or generate variations.

There has been some incredible artistic work produced with this tool. However, I am more interested in its practical applications as a business tool.

I have included below a few examples below and will add to these as new ideas spring to mind.

Design visualisation

Experiment 1) – Swimming Pools

Imagine you own a swimming pool installation business. You want to help your prospective clients visualise their garden with the pool installed.

1) Take a picture of their garden and upload it to Dalle-2.

2) Add a rectangular pool with a stone surround.

3) Add a raised patio with some garden furniture.

4) Add a family swimming in the pool.

5) Add a small pump room and make it a sunny day.

Experiment 2) – Architecture

Take a picture of the rear of a house and ask Dalle-2 to generate multiple variations.

Original image

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 3

Upload an image of a house and ask Dalle-2 to add a loft conversion with Dorma windows.

Original image

With loft extension added

Experiment 3) Fashion

Upload an image of a garment. Ask Dalle-2 to display it on a model (only partially successful). 

Original image

Displayed on a model (needs more work)

Experiment 4) Gardening

Upload an image of a flower bed. Ask Dalle-2 to generate ideas around the existing flowers.

Original image

Variation

How does Dalle-2 work?

I’m not qualified to give a technical answer to this question, and you probably don’t want one.

What I can tell you is that the images generated by Dalle-2 are not just “stitched together from the web”.  It has, however, been trained on billions of existing digital images. 

Imagine I asked you to draw a picture of “a dog with the neck of a giraffe”. You would probably recall in your mind an image of a dog and a giraffe and just keep drawing strokes on paper until you produced something resembling the instruction to the best of your artistic ability.

Dalle-2 works in a similar way. It “understands” the properties of a dog and a giraffe. It then generates variations until satisfied that the output shares enough of those same properties.  

How can I try Dalle-2?

There is currently a waiting list to use Dalle-2 but applications are being processed quickly. New users receive 50 image credits free and 15 more each month. You can also buy credits in units of 115 for $15 (460 images).

Dalle-2 is impressive, but far from perfect. You will waste a lot of credits on failed generations. However, you will get better results once you start to understand its quirks and limitations.

I feel I have barely scratched the surface of the capabilities of this technology. I would love to hear your ideas or suggestions.

Check out some of my other scripts and tools for marketers using OpenAI’s technology.